Table of content :

History of the name

There has been, through time, 11
different ways to write the name : De Meerlaen, De Meerlaer, De Merrelaere, De Merlaen, De Merlere, De Meerlere, De Merleer, De Merelaen, De Meirlaen, De Meirleer and De Meerleer. The latter has been
the one finally retained by the use.

A "meer" or "meir" is linked to
"mark" (frontiers) and is a piece of land surrounded by a ditch or
hedges. Is also used for naming places (lieu-dit
in French). In Herzele existed such places.

"Leer" is the middle-aged
transformation of "laar" and is meant for a certain way of working.

Therefore, a "meerleer" is
someone dealing with "meren" (pieces) of lands with ditches or
hedges. Nowadays, we would probably say someone who is placing
enclosures or some sort of geometer.

History of the armory

In 1998, a friend of mine discovered that the Family
name of "De Meerleer" had a registered armory in the archives of Spain.
Dated June 1687, it has been registered at the time the Belgian area
was ruled by Spain (it was at that time known as the "Pays-Bas
espagnols").

With the help of that friend, I claimed the armoury
by declaring to the Spanish king of arms that I was able and willing to
be the holder of it and would respect the duties linked to it. After
some inquiries and 2 years waiting, the king of arms accepted my
demand and recognised me as the "name holder" of the house and that
coat-of-arms.

Unfortunately, the Belgian Heraldic Council doesn't
recognise this armoury as it has to be proven that it has been publicly
used by a direct ascendant (less than 100 years) of the claimer, which
I cannot prove (the armoury having been forgotten for more than 10
generations).

Meaning of the armoury

The meaning, as far as I have been able to
understand it, may be as follow :